Drug kingpin's family to appeal lengthy sentences

FAMILY members of a Sunshine Coast drug syndicate kingpin say their court sentences are too high and they will seek early releases.

Anthony Ganley was jailed for 7.5 years in August last year for his role at the top of the drug network, which targeted young people at music festivals and social events, trafficking ecstasy, speed, cocaine and marijuana.

His father, Wayne, and brother, Dwayne, were jailed for four years during the same sentencing, with parole eligibility in February, 2014.

They were caught in the Hotel Guarana police operation, the biggest in regional Queensland and one of the first after phone intercept laws changed.

Barrister Craig Chowdhury told the Court of Appeal on Friday that the justice misstated Wayne's role as a "warehouser" of the drugs for his son.

He said Wayne did house some of the ecstasy but the drug network involved a much wider range of drugs that his client had nothing to do with.

Mr Chowdhury said he believed this misstatement might have led the judge to set a higher sentence than was warranted.

He said the sentence should have been 3.5 years, which would bring parole eligibility four months earlier.

Barrister Kevin Kelso said it was unfair that Dwayne had to serve more than the customary one third of his sentence, a common practice following guilty pleas.

He said the prosecution only dropped the trafficking charge, which had only extended for five days anyway, the day of the sentence.

Mr Kelso said Dwayne had already pleaded guilty to the supply charges, for which he was sentenced, much earlier.

He said if Dwayne's brother Anthony received parole eligibility after one third for his guilty plea, there should be parity for his client.

Crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy submitted the justice had given "due weight" to the guilty pleas and other factors.